Method and machine for adhesively lap seaming fabric



Nov. 20, 1956 JR. 5. M cCAFFRAY METHOD AND MACHINE FOR ADHESIVELY LAP SEAMING FABRIC 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 23, 1954 Nov. 20, 1956 R. S. M CAFFRAY METHOD AND MACHINE FOR ADHESIVELY LAP SEAMING FABRIC Filed July 23, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I N VEN TOR United States Patent METHOD AND MACHINE FOR ADHESIVELY LAP SEAMING FABRIC Rex Stuart MacCaffray, Boiling Springs, Pa., assignor to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army Application July 23, 1954, Serial No. 445,491

15 Claims. (Cl. 154-42) My invention relates to the art of lap seaming of textile fabric and more particularly to methods and means for carrying out the invention.

Flexible sheet material such as paper, plastics and like material have long been spliced together by adhesively secured lap seams. However, textile material, particularly coarse, absorbent textile material cannot readily b so spliced because of the surface roughness which does not lend itself to tight joints and also because of its tendency to absorb the liquid adhesive and leave on the surface an amount insufiicient to form a secure sea-m. Hence, such textile fabrics are usually sewed together.

With the foregoing in view, it is an object of my invention to provide an improved method and apparatus for adhesively lap seaming fabrics, particularly coarse textile fabrics.

A further object is to provide an improved method and apparatus of the class described which includes the steps or apparatus for simultaneously adhesively coating like edge surfaces of spaced and overlapped fabric webs as the same move toward each other, moving said webs unidirectionally, with said coated edge surfaces in abutting relation, and simultaneous applying pressure to opposite sides of said abutted and lapped edges to form a lap seam.

t A further object is to provide the steps or apparatus for applying at least two successive coatings to each web at pre determined intervals which permit predetermined conditioning of the first coatings and for joining said coated surfaces together after a second calculated interval permitting predetermined conditioning of the second coatings.

Other objects and advantages reside in the particular structure of the invention, the structure of the several elements of the same, combinations and subcombinations of such elements and/ or in the particular method of the invention, all of which will be readily understood by those skilled in the art upon reference to the attached drawing in connection with the following specification wherein the invention is shown, described and claimed.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a plan view of an embodiment of th invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view thereof;

Figure 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, longitudinal, vertical sectional view taken substantially on the planes of the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figures 4, 5, and 6 are fragmentary, transverse, vertical sectional views taken substantially on the planes of the lines 4-4, 5-5, and 6-6, respectively of Figure 3;

Figure 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary end elevational view taken substantially on the plane of the line 7-7 of Figure 2; and

Figure 8 is an enlarged, fragmentary plan view showing a detail of the construction.

Referring specifically to the drawing, wherein like reference characteris designate like parts throughout the several views, and referring at first to Figures 1 and 2, 10 designates generally a narrow feed table. The feed table 10 has its outer end equipped with a suitable guide, such Patented Nov. 20, 1956 as the transverse rod 11 which is fixedly mounted in any suitable manner as by being fixed to the brackets 12 Whic are fixed to and extend from the outer end of the table 10. The guide rod 11 is equipped with guide flanges 14 which are adjustable laterally therealong in any suitable manner as by set screws so that a web or strip of sheet material 13 of varying widths can be accommodated and also so that the inner edge thereof can be located with precision.

The strip of sheet material 13 is drawn along the table from the outer (right hand) end toward the inner end by means to be described later. As the strip 13 passes along the table its laterally inner edge is passed below the adhesive applicators 15 so that the upper surface of such edge portion has successive coats 21 of adhesive applied thereto. The applicators 15 may be of any suitable form but in the embodiment illustrated conform to the device forming the subject matter of my copending application entitled Adhesive Applying Means, filed July 16, 1954, Serial No. 443,981, now Patent No. 2,713,320, dated July 19, 1955.

At the opposite end of the device there is provided a wide table 16 which likewise has its outer end equipped with suitable guide means such as the rod 18 fixedly mounted in brackets 17 carried by the outer end of the table 16. Also, the guide rod 18 is equipped with lateral guide flanges 19 which are adjustable along the shaft 18 to locate accurately the inner edge of the strip or web of sheet material 20 and also to accommodate webs of sheet material of varying widths. In this connection, it should be noted that the first described table 10 is intended to accommodate but a single strip of sheet material 13. The table 16 is intended to accommodate a body or web of sheet material 20 which is much wider and which comprises several strips secured together, each corresponding to a strip 13, as 13a, 13b and joined together by means to be described later. The table 16 also has mounted thereon two or more adhesive applicators 15 which correspond to those of the table 10 and which apply successive coatings 22 of adhesive to the top surface of the laterally inner edge of sheet 20.

It should be noted at this time the tables 10 and 16 are in longitudinally spaced and laterally offset relation with adjacent edges in slightly laterally overlapped relation so that the laterally inner edges of the sheets 13 and 20 are slightly overlapped for a purpose to be apparent hereinafter. The applicators 15 of both tables are aligned. Thus, as the sheets 13 and 20 pass beneath the applicators 15, they receive the strip-like coatings 21 and 22 respectively which are aligned as the sheets move toward each other. Each table mounts at least two applicators 15 so that each coating 21 or 22 comprises a two-ply coating of the same adhesive, or the first applicator on each table may apply a coating of sizing material While the second applies a coating of adhesive thereover. In either event, it should be understood that the speed of movement of the strips 13 and 20 is such that the first coating applied thereto has at least partially set or become conditioned to the desired degree before the second coating is applied.

Power for driving or moving the sheets 13 and 20 is derived from any suitable source as the motor 23 which may be located at any convenient point as adjacent the table 10. A belt or the like 25 connects the motor 23 to the input end of any suitable speed reducing gear 24 the output end of which in turn is connected by a belt or the like 26 to a pulley 28 on a shaft 27 which is rotatably mounted in any suitable manner on a frame 40 disposed between the tables 10 and 16. A drive roller 29 is fixed on the shaft 27.

The sheet or strip 13 extends over and partially around the drive roller 29 and is held in driven engagement therewith by any suitable means such as a nip roller 30 whose shaft 31 is mounted to the adjacent outer ends of bracket arms 32 intermediate portions of which are pivoted as at 33 to the frame 40. The inner ends of the arms 32 are loaded downwardly by weights or the like 34 carried thereby and which, of course, elevate the outer ends of the arms 32 and the nip roller carried thereby so that the latter holds the strip 13 against the drive roller 29 in a manner readily understood. As best seen in Figure 7, the nip roller 30 is shorter than the drive roller 29 so that it contacts only the uncoated portion of the sheet or strip 13.

After it leaves the nip roller 30, the strip 13 is allowed to form a depending loop 35 and is then extended upwardly over a guide rod 36 fixedly mounted atop longitudinal top frame members 37 of the frame 40. Adjustable guide fianges 38 on the guide rod 36 maintain the proper alignment of the strip 13 as the same is fed to a driven presser roller 39 having a shaft 42 which is rotatably mounted atop the top frame members 37 aforesaid. The driven presser roller 39 is driven by a belt or chain 41 which operatively connects pulleys or the like fixed on the shafts 27 and 42. The shaft 42 likewise has fixed thereon a spur gear or the like 43 which is in mesh with a like spur gear 44 fixed on a second driven shaft 45 which is also rotatably mounted atop the longitudinal top frame members 37 of the frame 40.

The shaft 45 has fixed thereon a second presser roller 46 which has a portion of its peripheral surface juxtaposed to a like surface portion of the first-mentioned presser roller 39. Such juxtaposed surfaces of the rollers 39 and 46 move unidirectionally by the action of the gears 43 and 44 whereby the aligned coatings 21 and 22 of the overlapped edges of the sheets or strips 13 and are pressed together to form the lap seam. In this connection and to adapt the device to sheets or strips of varying thickness one or both of the presser rollers 39 and 46 are adjustable toward and away from each other by means new to be described and which is best seen in Figures 8 and 5.

While any suitable means for a slight adjustment is possible, a simple and effective structure is achieved by providing slots 49 in the pillow blocks 48 for receiving the bolts 47 which secure the pillow blocks 48 for the shafts 42 and 45 to the top frame members 37. Thus, the pillow blocks 43 may move slightly in directions to move the presser rollers 39 and 46 toward and away from each other. Such rollers may be held in adjusted relation or actually actuated toward each other by set screws 50 which may be threaded through transverse top frame members 51 of the frame 40 so that their free ends bear against the pillow blocks 48 or extensions 48a thereof. It is understood that the meshing spur gears 43 and 44 as well as the belts or the like 41 and 57 are constructed to permit the slight adjustment necessary to impart this desired flexibility to the device.

As is apparent from the foregoing, the sheet or strip 20 is handled in substantially the same manner as the strip 13 after leaving its table 16. That is to say it passes over and around drive and nip rollers 52 and 53, respectively, which correspond to the drive and nip rollers 29 and 30 aforesaid. The drive roller 52 is driven from the driven shaft 45 by a suitable belt, chain or the like 57 which connects pulleys, sprockets or the like 58 which are fixed on the two shafts. As shown in broken lines in Fig. l, nip roller 53 is shorter than drive roller 52 so as not to bear on the coating 22. Thereafter, a loop 54 is formed and the sheet 20 is taken upwardly over a guide rod 55 mounted atop the frame members 37. Adjustable guide flanges 56 on the guide rod 55 maintain the sheet in proper alignment with the strip 13 in the passage of the sheet 20 over the presser roller 46. As is apparent from Figure 1, only the inner ends of the presser rollers 46 and 39 are overlapped whereby unnecessary weight is reduced substantially. Also, this arrangement permits the device to handle webs or strips 13 or 20 which are wider than the presser rollers 39 and 46, as will appear later.

In operation, the reduction gear unit 24 may slow down the travel of the material 13 and 20 to the point where it allows fifteen minutes drying or conditioning time between applications of material from the two applicators 15. Of course, this interval may be varied in accordance with the nature of the coating material and the type of sheet material. Likewise, there is a substantial conditioning or drying interval between the second application of the coating material and the formation of the lap seam by the presser rolls 39 and 46. This interval is, of course, carefully calculated to bring the coatings 21 and 22 into engagement at the time when the condition of the coatings is best suited to form the seam. Of course, this interval is variable in accordance with the nature of the adhesive used and, to some extent, the type of sheet material being seamed. Thus, in the embodiment illustrated, when the device was used to seam cotton duck together with an appropriate cement, the linear travel of the sheets or strips 13 and 20 was six inches per minute and the interval between applicators 15 is approximately eight feet. Thus, the two cementation coatings were applied approximately fifteen or sixteen minutes apart.

In practice, the wide table 16 and the wide drive roll 52 will usually be slightly wider than a composite fabric formed of several strips 13, 13a, 13b, 130. However, it need not be as wide as the width of the finished sheet 20 as the laterally outer edge of the latter may be folded inwardly over itself repeatedly so long as it does not get to a point where it passes between the overlapped portions of the presser rolls 39 and 46. v

As the seam strips 13 and 20 descend after passing between presser rolls 39 and 46, the composite sheet may be disposed of in any suitable manner, not shown, such as being wound into a roll or otherwise formed into a compact unit.

Thus, it is apparent that there is no real limit to the length or width of the sheet 20 as the strips 13, 13a, etc., may be any length and any number may be lap seamed together. From a practical point of view while the table 10 will usually be narrow, it may be of any desired width even as wide as the table 16. Likewise, it is expected that the structure of the frame 40 and the parts carried thereby is susceptible of considerable variance or could even be eliminatedas if the drive rollers 29 and 52 were brought into overlapped juxtaposition to comprise presser rollers.

Thus, while I have shown and described an operative embodiment of the invention, it should be understood that the same is susceptible of other forms and expressions. Consequently, I do not limit myself to the particular structure shown and described hereinabove except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. In a machine for lap seaming together side edge portions of textile materials, two spaced and partially aligned tables, means operatively associated with said tables and mounting a strip of textile material on each table with said strips in longitudinally spaced and laterally offset relation with adjacent side edge portions in slightly overlapped relation, means for continuously moving said strips toward each other, means on each table for applying adhesive to the same surface of each of the overlapped portions. of said strips as the same are moved toward each other, means for directing said stn'ps unidirectionally with said adhesive-coated, overlapped portions in abutting relation, and said last-named meansv including presser means for pressing said overlapped portions together.

2. In a machine for lap seaming together side edge portions of textile materials, two spaced and partially aligned tables, means operatively associated with said tables mounting a strip of textile material on each table in longitudinally spaced and laterally offset relation with adjacent side edge portions in slightly overlapped relation, means for continuously moving said strips toward each other, means on each table for applying adhesive to the upper surfaces of the overlapped portions of said strips as the same are moved toward each other, means for directing said strips downwardly with said adhesivecoated, overlapped portions in abutting relation, and said last-named means including presser means for pressing said overlapped portions together.

3. -In a machine for lap seaming together side edge portions of two strips of textile material, means mounting said strips in longitudinally spaced and laterally offset relation with adjacent side edge portions in slightly overlapping relation, means for moving said strips toward each other, means for applying adhesive coatings to the same surface of each of said edge portions, means for directing said strips unidirectionally with said coated edge portions in abutting relation, and said last-named means including means for pressing said abutting edge portions together to form a lap seam.

4. In a machine for lap seaming together side edge portions of two strips of textile material, means mounting said strips in a substantially horizontal plane in longitudinally spaced and laterally offsetrelation with adjacent side edge portions in slightly overlapped relation, means for continuously moving said strips toward each other, means applying adhesive coatings to the upper surfaces of said overlapped edge portions, means for directing said strips downwardly with said coated edge portions in abutting relation, and said last-named means including means pressing said abutting edge portions together to form a lap seam.

5. In a machine for lap seaming together side edge portions of two strips of textile material, means mounting said strips in a substantially horizontal plane in longitudinally spaced and laterally offset relation with adjacent side edge portions in slightly overlapped relation, driving means for continuously moving said strips toward each other, means applying adhesive coatings to the upper surfaces of said overlapped edge portions, two rollers, means mounting said rollers with juxtaposed peripheral surface portions, means operatively connecting said rollers to said driving means for so driving said rollers that said juxtaposed surface portions move downwardly, each roller having one of said strips led thereover so that said coated edge portions move downwardly between said rollers and are pressed thereby into intimate abutting relation to form a lap seam.

6. In a machine for lap seaming together side edge portions of two strips of textile material, means mounting said strips in longitudinally spaced and laterally offset relation with adjacent side edge portions in slightly overlapped relation, driving means for moving said strips toward each other, means for applying adhesive coatings to the same surface of each of said edge portions, two rollers, means mounting said rollers with juxtaposed surfaces, means operatively connecting said rollers to said driving means for so driving said rollers that said juxtaposed surfaces move unidirectionally, each roller having one of said strips led thereover so that said coated edge portions move unidirec-tionally between said rollers and are passed thereby into intimate abutting relation to form a lap seam.

7. In a machine for lap seaming together side edge portions of two strips of textile material, means mounting said strips in longitudinally spaced and laterally offset relation with a side edge portion of each strip slightly overlapping an adjacent edge portion of the other strip, means for continuously moving said strips toward each other, means for applying at least one adhesive coating to the same surface of each of said edge portions, means for directing said strips in a vertical direction with said coated edge portions in abutting relation, and said last-named means including means pressing said abutting coated edge portions into intimate engagement to form a lap seam.

8. In a machine for lap seaming together side edge portions of two strips of textile material, means mounting said strips in longitudinally spaced and laterally offset relation with a side edge portion of each strip slightly overlapping an adjacent edge portion of the other strip, means for continuously moving said strips toward each other, spaced means applying at least two successive coatings to the same surface of each of said edge portions, at least the second coating of each edge portion comprising an adhesive coating, means for directing said strips unidirectionally with said coated edge portions in abutting relation, and said last-named means including means pressing said abutting coated edge portions into intimate engagement to form a lap seam.

9. In a method of continuously adhesively lap seaming together side edge portions of two strips of textile material, the steps of continuously and slowly moving said strips toward each other, applying a narrow strip-like coating of adhesive to the same surface of a side edge portion of each strip, allowing said coatings to be conditioned desirably as said strips move toward each other, positioning said moving strips in overlapping relation with said coated edge surfaces abutting, and pressing said abutted edge surfaces together to form a lap seam.

10. In .a method of continuously adhesively lap seaming together side edge portions of two strips of textile material, the steps of continuously and slowly moving said strips toward each other, applying a narrow strip-like coating of adhesive to the same surface of a side edge portion of each stri allowing said coatings to be conditioned desirably as said strips move toward each other, applying and allowing to be desirably conditioned second strip-like coatings :of adhesive to said moving edge portions of said strips, positioning said moving strips in overlapping relation with said coated edge surfaces abutting,

and pressing said abutted edge surfaces together to form a lap seam.

11. In a machine for lap seaming together side edge portions of two strips of textile material, means mounting said strips in a substantially horizontal plane in longitudinally spaced and laterally offset relation with adjacent side edge portions in slightly overlapped relation, means for continuously moving said strips toward each other, means applying adhesive coatings to the upper surfaces of said overlapped edge portions, a frame interposed between said means mounting said strips and extending substantially above such means, two rollers, means mounting said rollers on said frame above said strip mounting means, said rollers being laterally offset and having adjacent ends slightly overlapped with juxtaposed peripheral surfaces, means driving said rollers so that said juxtaposed surfaces move downwardly, strip guiding means on said frame and guiding said strips upwardly over said rollers and downwardly between said overlapped juxtaposed surfaces thereof so that said coated edge portions of said strips are aligned, and said coated edge portion being pressed by said overlapped juxtaposed surfaces of said rollers into intimate abutting relation to form a lap seam.

12. In a method of continuously adhesively lap seaming together side edge portions of two webs of textile material, the steps of disposing said webs in a horizontal plane in longitudinally spaced and laterally offset relation with a side edge of one web in slightly overlapping relation to an adjacent edge of the other web, continuously and slowly moving said webs toward each other in a horizontal plane, applying a narrow strip-like coating of adhesive to the same surface of each of said overlapped edges of said webs, allowing said coatings to condition desirably as said webs move toward each other, moving said webs unidirectionally with said coated overlapped edges abutting, and simultaneously pressing said abu-tted overlapped edges together to form a lap seam.

13. In a method of continuously adhesively lap seaming together side edge portions of two webs of textile material, the steps of disposing said webs in a horizontal plane in longitudinally spaced and laterally offset relation with a side edge of one web in slightly overlapping relation to an adjacent edge of the other web, continuously and slowly moving said webs toward each other in a horizontal plane, applying a narrow strip-like coating of adhesive to the same surface of each of said overlapped edges ofs'aid webs, allowing said coatings to condition desirably as said webs move toward each other, bringing said overlapped coated edges into abutment, and simultaneously moving said webs downwardly while pressing said abutting edges together to form a lap seam. Y I

'14. In a machine for lap seaming together side edge pontions of two strips of textile material, means mounting said strips in longitudinally spaced and laterally ofiset relation with adjacent side edge portions in slightly overlapping relation, means for moving said strips toward each other at a predetermined speed, means for applying uniform adhesive coatings to the same surface of each of said edge portions, means for directing said strips unidirectionally with said coated edge portions in abutting relation, said last-named means including means for pressing said abutting edge portions together to form a lap seam, and said last-named means being spaced from said means for applying adhesive a distance precalculated to allow conditioning of said coatings to a most desirable degree prior to formation of the seam.

15. In a machine for lap seaming together side edge portions of two strips of textile material, means mounting said strips in a substantially horizontal plane in longitudinally spaced and laterally offset relation with adjacent side edge portions .in slightly overlapped relation, means for continuously moving said strips toward each other, means applying adhesive coatings to the upper surfaces of said overlapped edge portions, means providing a precalculated conditioning interval for said coatings, means for directing said strips downwardly with said coated'edge portions in abutting relation, and said last-named means including means pressing said abutting edge portions together to form a lap seam. Y

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED .STATES PATENTS Daniel et al. Jan. 30, 19 51 

